Appearance

Charles Dickens quotations on the theme of Appearance.

Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870) was one of the foremost writers from the Victorian era and remains a popular widely-read author today. During his lifetime he produced 15 novels, five novellas, and a large number of shorter stories and essays. He wrote from personal experiences and concerned himself with a number of contemporary social issues whilst supporting numerous charitable causes, giving assistance in time, money or personal effort. Our archive of over 400 Charles Dickens quotations are organised by both source material, i.e. the work or speech in which it originally appeared, and also grouped thematically. In this archive, we have collected quotations from Charles Dickens works on the theme of Appearance.

Click on a quotation for more information, including links to original source, the context in which it appeared, related material and the ability to give each quotation a rating and help us compile the very best Charles Dickens quotations.

Background. "That sort of half-sigh, which, accompanied by two or three slight nods of the head, is pity’s small change in general society." is a quotation from Nicholas Nickleby (Chapter 18). The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, more commonly referred to as Nicholas Nickleby, is the third novel by Charles Dickens, originally serialised between

Background. "To judge from appearances, you're out of luck." is a quotation from Great Expectations (Chapter 42). Great Expectations is Charles Dickens's thirteenth novel first published between 1860 and 1861. Context. Quotation said by the villain Compeyson, as recalled by Abel Magwitch. Taken from the following passage in Chapter 42 of Great Expectations: “At Epsom races, a matter of over twenty years ago, I got acquainted wi’ a man whose skull I’d crack wi’ this poker, like the claw [...]

Background. "An eye for everything that was done, and an ear for everything that was said." is a quotation from Oliver Twist (Chapter 26). Oliver Twist, subtitled The Parish Boy’s Progress, is the second novel by Charles Dickens, published in 1837. Description of the Saffron Hill area from a London guide published in 1850. Context. Taken from the following passage in Chapter 26 of Oliver Twist: It was curious to observe some faces which stood out prominently [...]

Background. "Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There's no better rule." is a quotation from Great Expectations (Chapter 40). Great Expectations is Charles Dickens's thirteenth novel first published between 1860 and 1861. Context. Quotation said by the lawyer Mr. Jaggers to Pip, who is trying to confirm that his benefactor is Abel Magwitch. Although Pip has recently met Magwitch in London, Mr. Jaggers wishes to maintain that he is in New South Wales, Australia because [...]

Background. "Moths, and all sorts of ugly creatures hover about a lighted candle. Can the candle help it?" is a quotation from Great Expectations (Chapter 38). Great Expectations is Charles Dickens's thirteenth novel first published between 1860 and 1861. Context. Quote said by Estella to Pip. At a dance, Pip express his concerns to Estella about the advances of the scoundrel Bentley Drummle towards her, using the phrase "hovering about you all night". Estella, as ever cold-hearted towards Pip, [...]

Background. "I must be taken as I have been made. The success is not mine, the failure is not mine, but the two together make me." is a quotation from Great Expectations (Chapter 38). Great Expectations is Charles Dickens's thirteenth novel first published between 1860 and 1861. Context. Quotation said by the character Estella. Taken from the following passage in Chapter 38 of Great Expectations: Estella looked at her for a moment with a kind of calm wonder, but was [...]

Background. "in particular, there was a butler in a blue coat and bright buttons, who gave quite a winey flavour to the table beer; he poured it out so superbly" is a quotation from the novel Dombey and Son (Chapter 12). Dombey and Son was Charles Dickens's seventh novel, published between 1846 and 1848. Have Your Say. Give your view on "in particular, there was a butler in a blue coat and bright buttons, who gave quite a [...]

Background. "Great men are seldom over-scrupulous in the arrangement of their attire." is a quotation from The Pickwick Papers (Chapter 2). The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, more commonly now known as simply The Pickwick Papers was Charles Dickens's first novel, published between 1836 and 1837. Context. Taken from the following passage in Chapter 2 of The Pickwick Papers: That punctual servant of all work, the sun, had just risen, and begun to strike a light on the morning [...]

Background. "There are only two styles of portrait painting; the serious and the smirk." is a quotation from Nicholas Nickleby (Chapter 10). The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, more commonly referred to as Nicholas Nickleby, is the third novel by Charles Dickens, originally serialised between

Background. "It was not exactly a hairdresser's; that is to say, people of a coarse and vulgar turn of mind might have called it a barber's; for they not only cut and curled ladies elegantly, and children carefully, but shaved gentlemen easily" is a quotation from Nicholas Nickleby (Chapter 52). The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, more commonly referred to as Nicholas Nickleby, is the third novel by Charles Dickens, originally serialised between

Background. "A man in public life expects to be sneered at - it is the fault of his elevated situation, and not of himself" is a quotation from Nicholas Nickleby (Chapter 14). The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, more commonly referred to as Nicholas Nickleby, is the third novel by Charles Dickens, originally serialised between

Background. "Miss Knag still aimed at youth, although she had shot beyond it, years ago" is a quotation from Nicholas Nickleby (Chapter 17). The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, more commonly referred to as Nicholas Nickleby, is the third novel by Charles Dickens, originally serialised between